TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • Hawker granted GH¢50,000.00 bail over theft

    An Accra Circuit Court has granted a GH¢50,000.00 bail with two sureties to a hawker for allegedly stealing.

    The court stated that the sureties should be residents within the jurisdiction of the Court, gainfully employed and earning not less than GH¢1,000.00 a month.

    Emmanuel Anim Barimah pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit a crime to wit stealing, stealing, and causing unlawful harm.

    He will make his next appearance on January 25, 2021.

    Meanwhile, two of his accomplices; Richard Ajunwa and Emmanuel Ajunwa, all head porters are currently on the run.

    Police Chief Inspector William Kwadwo Boateng, told the Court presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah that, Mr. Yaw Debrah is the complainant in the case and a trader, living at Agbobloshie.

    He said Barimah and his accomplices also lived at Kantamanto in Accra.
    Chief Inspector Boateng said on August 24, 2020 at about 0330hours, Barimah who is a friend to Debrah, went to his house whilst, he (the complainant) was asleep.

    The Prosecution said Barimah, with two others namely Richard and Emmanuel later attacked the complainant who was sleeping in his room together with one Francis Owusu, a witness in the case, and made away with his goods valued at GH¢3,540.00.

    He said Barimah who was holding a pair of scissors also stabbed the complainant multiple times, which resulted in deep cuts on his head and abrasions all over his body.

    The Prosecution said Barimah and the two bolted with the goods in addition to GH¢1,500.00. Chief Inspector Boateng said the complainant made a formal report to the police and on the same day, Barimah was arrested from his hideout.

    The Prosecution said, in his cautioned statement, Barimah admitted the offense but failed to lead police to retrieve the items.

    Source: GNA

  • Government releases calendar for 2021 SHS academic year

    The Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service has released the Senior High School (SHS) calendar for the 2021 academic year.

    Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, the Director-General, GES, briefing the media in Accra, said the 2021 calendar for the SHS would be run on a semester basis for the academic year.

    He said the first semester would begin from January to June, while the second semester would start from July to December 2021.

    Prof. Opoku-Amankwa said the form three SHS students for all double-track schools would begin their first semester lessons from January 2021 to March 2021 and vacate from March to April 2021, while the second semester would begin from June 30 and sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in September/October 2021.

    Also, form three SHS students for all single-track schools would begin first semester between January and February 2021, to March/April and start the second semester from June and start the WASSCE in September/October 2021.

    He said the first semester for form two SHS students running the green track system would begin lessons from January 15, to March 31 and vacate from April, to May, 2021, while the second semester would begin from June to August, 2021, to September/October, 2021.

    The first semester for gold track system for form two SHS, would start from March to June, 2021 and end between July and August, 2021, while the second semester begins from September to December, 2021.

    He said form two SHS students for all single-track schools would begin their first semester from January to March, vacate from March to April, 2021, while the second semester begins from June to October, 2021, with November and December ending the academic year.

    Prof. Opoku-Amankwa said fresh SHS students would begin their first semester from March to June, 2021, and vacate from July to August, 2021, while the second semester begins from September to December.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on March 16, 2021 ordered the closure of schools in the country due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The reopening followed progress being made by the country in containing the spread of the virus.

    Source: GNA

  • Muslim chief commends NDC for seeking redress in court

    The Sarkin Talba of Greater Accra Hausa Chief and a philanthropist, Alhaji Issaka Nettey has applauded the National Democratic Congress NDC over its the decision to seek redress at the Supreme Court.

    The leadership of the NDC outrightly rejected the 2020 Presidential elections results as declared by the Electoral Commission Chairperson, Jean Mensah describing it as flawed.

    The post-election protest by the main opposition party has claimed six lives and wounded many.

    He noted that, Ghana has been a peaceful nation until the recent election adding that the current post-election protest in the country will have a negative effect on National Development.

    He said one of the most recurring in Africa is electoral violence and has been the bane of most African countries.

    According to him it has become political nightmares in the midst of other related violence that have both political and economic implications on development within the continent.

    He revealed that Ghana has been relatively free from electoral violence, unlike other Africa Countries which have suffered rioting during and after elections adding that since the advent of multi-party democracy in 1992, Ghana had held a number of elections that observers regarded as violence free.

    He said the time has come to think differently on how to resolve electoral dispute as well as to position Chiefs, Peace Council and the Judiciary to actively participate in post-election protest and violence resolution and dialogue.

    He reiterated the need for all stakeholders to actively involve in making Ghana proud and attain its stands as the gate way to Africa and a beacon of democracy.

    He urged Political parties not to allow the 2020 elections to break the history of peaceful electioneering in the country.

    He applauded the various stakeholders namely the National Peace Council, Civil Society Organizations, Religious leaders, Non-Governmental Organisations, Traditional Rulers as well as meaning Ghanaians who added their voices to ensure peace in the country.

    Alhaji Issaka Nettey also commended the ruling New Patriotic Party NPP for the manner they comported themselves in celebrating their victory without any provocation.

    He called for God’s guidance in the country’s journey to finding a peaceful resolution to the political impasse the country is facing and urged opinion leaders, Chiefs, Clergy and statesmen to ensure that justice prevails.

    He cautioned against the hypocritical behaviour of some prominent persons who make pronouncements that tend to instigate the youth to make negative statements against prominent personalities.

    Source: Muhammed Faisal Mustapha, Contributor

  • Speaker admonish MPs to offer Akufo-Addo full courtesies in last SONA presentation

    The Speaker of Parliament Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye has admonished parliamentarians to give the President, Nana Addo Dankwa the courtesies he deserves when he appears before the House to deliver his last state of the nation address tomorrow, Tuesday, January 5, 2021.

    The speaker admonished the House to desist from heckling and the use of placards on the day.

    He asked the MPs to be mindful of the decision taken by both sides of the House to have MPs give the president the courtesies he needed anytime he appears before the House.

    He said the House agreed that whenever a president appears in parliament, full courtesies would be accorded him or her hence the ban placed on the use of placards and uncourteous interruptions.

    He made the appeal in his opening remarks when he welcomed legislators on Monday, January 4, 2021.

    The Majority leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu in his remarks said parliament will continue to sit until it is dissolved on January 6, 2021.

    He further stated that on Wednesday the house will wind up the programs of activities relating to the 7th Parliament before it is dissolved.

    He advised legislators to find proper ways in expressing their disagreements on issues.

    He was hopeful members have learned useful lessons throughout the 7th parliament.

    On his part, the Minority Chip Whip Muntaka Mubarak advised his colleagues to make use of the lessons learned from the current House and make sure it guides them as they prepare for the 8th parliament.

    He wished them well and prayed their aspirations would be met.

    President Akufo-Addo is expected to deliver his last State of the Nation address for his first term in office come Tuesday, January 5, 2021.

    The event is expected to come off at 10:00 am on the said date.

    The presentation is in line with Article 67 of the 1992 constitution which states that “the President shall, at the beginning of each session of Parliament and before a dissolution of Parliament, deliver to Parliament a message on the state of the nation”.

    Meanwhile, the current Parliament is set to be dissolved come January 6, 2021 for the 8th Parliament to be inaugurated on January 7.

    This is also in line with the Presidential Transition Act, 2012 (Act 842) of the 1992 constitution.

    Source: rainbownradioonline.com

  • 2021 WASSCE to be written in Sept/Oct; BECE in Nov GES

    The Ghana Education Service (GES) has said it is in discussions with the West African Examination Council (WAEC) for the 2021 West African Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to be moved to September/October.

    It has also recommended that the 2021 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) take place in November.

    The Director-General of the GES, Professor Kwasi Opoku Amankwa, said the proposal is to allow students to prepare adequately for the exam.

    “Per our arrangements, we expect that the next exams will be written in September/October, and we have already started discussions with WAEC on that,” he said at a press conference in Accra on Monday, 4 January 2020.

    He added: “We needed to make provision for marking and release of exam results and reopening, so, if we decide on October/November, it will be difficult for WAEC to release the exam [results] early enough for admissions to take place in January.”

    “So, per our calculation, we have proposed September /October, and we noticed that when we use these dates, we would have covered 1,700 hours and will only be short of one-hour contact period which we can always make up for,” he added.

    Professor Opoku Amankwa also expressed optimism that the exit examination timetables would revert to their normal dates by 2023.

    “Looking into the future, WASSCE will be held in July/August and BECE in September for 2022. In 2023, WASSCE will then come back to our normal date which is May/June and then BECE will follow suit,” he said.

    Source: Class FM

  • NBSSI launches Business Support Organisations Directory for small scale enterprises

    The National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) and SheTrades Commonwealth International Trade Centre have launched a directory of Business Support Organisations for small and medium enterprises, particularly women businesses in Ghana.

    The open-source repository contains information about organisations that provide business support services to SMEs, especially women entrepreneurs.

    The directory aims at creating awareness of the existence of key support organisations, connect women-owned and women-led businesses to a wider customer base.

    Mrs Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, Executive Director of NBSSI, said the BSO Directory would help remove the challenges of access to business support services and help entrepreneurs to establish contacts.

    The Directory, she said, would provide a one-stop-shop for women entrepreneurs to access information on support programmes and initiatives geared towards women in business.

    “The BSO Directory will be a one-stop catalogue to access key profiles and relevant BSO contact information as well as the services they provide,” she said.

    The directory will also provide other relevant information on institutional initiatives and services available to women-owned businesses.

    The BSO Directory has 59 organisations categorized into multi-sectorial BSOs, Financial Services Sector BSOs, Shea Sector BSOs, Art, Tourism and Hospitality Sector BSOs, Education Sector BSOs and Technology Sector BSOs

    In addition to being a one-stop catalogue to access key profiles and relevant BSO contact information, the BSO Directory will provide updates on training opportunities and services, information on membership application processes, and an access hub containing data and pointers to ongoing women-focused initiatives.

    Source: GNA

  • Forward auction to stabilize cedi in 2021 – Economist predicts

    An Economist with Databank, Courage Martey, has indicated the use of forward auction has a high potential to stabilize the Ghanaian cedi.

    According to him, the move on the interbank foreign exchange market in the country will yield positive results in the first quarter of 2021.

    Mr Martey, in interaction with Citi Business, urged the Bank of Ghanato continue with its bi-weekly forex auctions which he noted has helped participants on the exchange market to lock in on exchange rates without having to rush for physical cash.

    In his words, “First of all the bi-weekly forex auctions that are being conducted by the Bank of Ghana has been very helpful because they are forward transactions that help participants on the exchange market to lock in exchange rates without going to rush for the physical cash and that has helped to reduce speculative and panic transactions on the spot market and so continuing these forward auctions will deepen forex trade on the market and that should help reduce panic on the spot market”.

    Meanwhile, the cedi has suffered depreciation for several years with investors having the fear of dealing with the local currency.

    The situation which occurs within the last quarter of a year through to the first quarter of a new year is usually attributed mainly to a hike in commercial activities during the festive season and profit and dividends repartition by foreign investors in the first quarter of a new year.

    Businessmen thus find it difficult to take strategic decisions for fear of the value of the cedi changing from one day to the next.

    However, forward auctions enable foreign exchange dealers to make forex purchase through spot sales that include a purchase made on a day and settlements done in two days.

    Courage Martey predicted that with the continuous use of forward auctions by the central bank, the cedi is highly likely to be stable in 2021.

    “What we also noticed from this year is that typically the Bank of Ghana will alot twenty-five million dollars at each biweekly forward auction but in the first quarter of this year they actually allotted twenty million dollars per auction every two weeks, so it shows that the Central bank is preparing to support the cedi with all policy tools available,” he explained.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Deadline for recapitalisation moved to January 2022 – NIC

    The deadline for the recapitalisation of insurance companies has been moved from June 2021 to January 2022, the National Insurance Commission (NIC) has said.

    The economic impact of Coronavirus on businesses resulted in the extension of the deadline for the insurance companies.

    In June 2019, the NIC announced a new minimum capital requirement for insurance companies operating in the country.

    The new minimum capital requirement for life and non-life companies was increased from GH¢15 million to GH¢50 million with that of reinsurance companies moving from GH¢40 million to GH¢125 million.

    Insurance broking companies also saw their stated capital increase from GH¢300,000 to GH¢500,000, while that of reinsurance broking companies was maintained at the current GH¢1 million.

    Insurance companies were expected to file their recapitalization plans by December 2020 as well as meet the new requirement by June 2021.

    However, with six months to the deadline, the NIC has come out to give the companies a further six months to adequately prepare to meet the new requirement.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • We have enough reserves to keep cedi stable in 2021 BoG

    Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison, has said measures have been put in place to ensure the stability of the cedi in 2021.

    The cedis ended in 2020 with a depreciation of 3.8 percent against the dollar.

    As of the beginning of 2020, the Ghana cedi was trading at GH¢5.54 to a dollar but it closed the year trading at GH¢5.76 to the US currency.

    Speaking on the prospects of the cedi this year, Dr. Addison said the central bank remains resolute in keeping the currency stable throughout the year.

    “We were looking at building reserves to the tune of $300 million. The question is whether the $300 million is sufficient to enable us to guarantee a stable exchange rate in 2021. Obviously, it will help, but it will not be the only solution. As you know, the government has indicated its intention of going back to the capital market in 2021, so all of that will help us to keep the cedi stable,” he said.

    Dr. Addison mentioned that although most first quarters witness an increase in demand for foreign exchange, he is confident the reserves of the central bank will address the seasonal demand.

    “Our currency goes through a seasonal pattern in the first quarter of every year. We see quite a peak demand in the first quarter of every year. We are hoping that the reserves that we have built can help us mitigate that seasonal demand.”

    Analysts have attributed the cedi stability to the government’s ability to secure a US$3 billion dollar Eurobond facility last year before the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The coming in of the US$1 billion dollar IMF RCF facility was cited as a factor that ensured the availability of foreign exchange on the market and the eventual stability of the local currency in 2020.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Clerk of Parliament exposed as controversy rages over Amewus injunction

    The Parliament of Ghana has been exposed over claims that it never received any communication to the effect there is an injunction on the Hohoe Parliamentary seat paving way for Mr. Amewu to be duly cleared to register as a lawmaker.

    Parliament claimed at the time of going to the press it had not through the clerk, been notified of any court injunction on the Hohoe MP.

    The MP registration which started from 2nd January is expected to end on Wednesday the 6th of January, 2020 with a swearing-in to take place on 7th January which saw Mr. John Peter Amewu taking part in view of the disclosure by parliament.

    But a letter sighted by MyNewsGh.com from Zenith Law Consult dated December 24, 2020, to the Clerk of Parliament received with a stamp date of December 24, 2020, reads in part “May I extend to you compliments of the Christmas Season and best wishes for the New Year.

    As solicitor for the applicants in the above-named case in which the applicants are seeking enforcement of certain fundamental rights, including their right to vote and be represented in Parliament, I hereby bring to your attention orders of injunction made yesterday 23rd December 2020, by the High Cotton in Ho on the basis of an ex-parte application we made to the court. Attached herewith is a certified true copy of the said orders.

    We specifically draw your attention respectfully to the third order which enjoins the 3rd Respondent Peter Amewu from presenting himself to be sworn in as the Member of Parliament for Hohoe constituency or otherwise holding himself out as such. This order is obviously relevant to your role in preparations for the next Parliament. We wish to underline the fact that these orders of the Ho High Court are in the exercise of its human rights enforcement jurisdiction.

    Source: My News GH

  • Amewu case: Supreme Court to give ruling on Tuesday Jan. 5

    The five-member Supreme Court panel hearing an application challenging a High Court’s jurisdiction in granting an injunction against the Member of Parliament Elect for Hohoe, John Peter Amewu’s gazetting has fixed Tuesday, December 5, 2020, to deliver its ruling.

    The panel of judges presided by Justice Yaw Appau is expected to deliver its verdict at 12noon after the parties involved have argued their case in court.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • ‘Demonstrating’ NDC MPs broke no law Ras Mubarak insists

    Outgoing Member of Parliament (MP) for Kumbungu Constituency, Mr Ras Mubarak, insists that he and other colleagues on the minority side broke no law to warrant being dragged to court by the police. 

    The Ghana Police Service has dragged 20 lawmakers including Haruna Iddrisu, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, Samuel George, John Abdulai Jinapor, Rockson Defiamekpor, Ras Mubarak, Mutawakilu Adam, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, Dr Kwabena Donkor, A.B. Fuseini, Kwabena Minta Akando, Yusif Issaka Jaja, Isaac Adongo, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, James Klutse Avedzi, James Agalga, Collins Dauda, Abdul Rashi Pelpuo, Richard Quashigah and Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings before the court over what it claimed were a violation of public order act.

    But reacting to the development on Kumasi-based Nhyira FM monitored by MyNewsGh.com, Ras Mubarak maintained there is absolutely nothing illegal about their action which was a peaceful process wondering why they must be hauled before the courts.

    “If you walk to the KMA to present a petition to the Mayor about an upsurge in crime and the increasing power outage is that a crime to the extent that the police are issuing? Would that be a crime? If it is a demonstration with red armbands amidst noise changes the equation. What the minority MPs did was a procession or a walk and there is nothing wrong with embarking on a walk,” he justified.

    According to him, he would be very surprised if any judge will entertain what he described as a vexatious suit from the police who he suspects are being remote-controlled from the corridors of power.

    Source: My News GH

  • 8000 teachers fail licensure exams

    Over eight thousand teachers have failed the mandatory Licensure Examination (NTLE) representing 30.75% of the total number who sat for the test.

    A statement by the National Teaching Council on Monday, January 4 said 27,455 candidates sat for the exams.

    According to the NTC, 19,013 candidates representing 69.3% passed the exams with the remaining results withheld pending investigation.

    The council has called on all candidates to check their results from the NTC online portal at exam.ntc.gov.gh by using either their pins given during registration or their examination index numbers using their phone numbers.

    Candidates were also advised to print their provisional certificates after checking their phone numbers.

    The NTLE was introduced by the government in 2019 backed by the Education Act of 2008, Act 778, with the first-ever teacher licensure exams taking place in September 2018.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Election Protest: Zanetor Rawlings, other 19 NDC MPs court case adjourned

    Court has been forced to adjourn a case against some twenty minority Members of Parliament (MP) charged over their march to the Electoral Commission (EC) head office.

    The adjournment, although without a new set date, came as a result of the MPs failing to show up in court.

    The police prosecutor on Monday indicated his readiness to proceed with the case, however, none of the accused persons or their lawyers were present.

    The charged minority MPs walked from Parliament to the EC Head Office and broke through a police barricade to present a petition to the EC on December 22, 2020.

    The police in a statement of offence accused the minority MPs of failing to notify the police before holding a special event contrary to sections 1, 2 and 9 of the Public Order Act.

    Also, the NDC MPS were charged with unlawful assembly contrary to section 202 of the Criminal Offences Act.

    “You are hereby commanded in the name of the republic to appear before this court at Accra on the 4th of January 2021,” the summons distributed in the pigeonholes (shelves) of each of the 20 MPs read.

    The MPs are Haruna Iddrisu, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, Samuel George, John Abdulai Jinapor, Rockson Defiamekpor, Ras Mubarak, Mutawakilu Adam, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, Dr Kwabena Donkor, A.B. Fuseini, Kwabena Minta Akando, Yusif Issaka Jaja, Isaac Adongo, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, James Klutse Avedzi, James Agalga, Collins Dauda, Abdul Rashi Pelpuo, Richard Quashigah and Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.

    Meanwhile, the Deputy General Secretary of the party, Peter Boamah Otokunor, was also charged with the same offence.

    MP for Kumbungu Ras Mubarak had earlier indicated that his minority colleagues will not honour a police summon served on them to appear before the Accra Circuit Court.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Honyenugah must recuse himself from Amewu trial Tsikata appeals

    Tsatsu Tsikata has demanded that Justice Clemence Honyenugah recuses himself from the ongoing trial over the victory of Peter Amewu in the Hohoe parliamentary election.

    The five-member panel of the Supreme Court presided over by Justice Yaw Appau with support from Justice Clemence Hornyenugah, Justice Samuel Marful-Sau, Justice Gertrude Torkunor and Justice Amadu Tanko are expected to hear the substantive case today

    But when the case was called for the substantive case to be heard, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata asked Justice Honyenugah to recuse himself.

    According to him, should he fail to do so, they were going to raise an objection for him to recuse himself on grounds that he has a strong personal relationship with John Peter Amewu.

    After Justice Honyenugah had indicated to the panel that, he had no personal relationship with the Hohoe Member of Parliament-Elect and that he was not going to recuse himself, Lawyer Tsikata moved his objection.

    Moving his objection for Justice Honyenugah to recuse himself, Mr. Tsikata said the Supreme Court judge has “long-standing personal close relationship with Peter Amewu”.

    He argued that, they are willing to bring persons before the court to testify in that respect and that if the witnesses are heard, the court will agree with them on why he should recuse himself.

    He said Justice Honyenuga cannot be a judge in his own course and that their witnesses are prepared to testify on oath on these matters.

    AG objects

    Deputy Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame while opposing to the objection said, no basis has been established for recusal of any member of the panel.

    He said counsel owes it a duty to establish the case of bias against the said judge but has not done so, and that the claims are only premised on “speculative and conjecture.”

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Deputy Defence Minister commissions two Police Stations

    The Director in charge of Technical at the Ghana Police Service, Mr Samuel Monney, has admonished personnel of the Ghana Police Service to remain impartial, truthful and professional in protecting lives and property while discharging their duties as personnel. 

    According to him, the police must ensure there’s total coordination between them and the citizens as a collective responsibility for sustained peace and economic growth.

    Mr Samuel Monney gave the advice at a separate commissioning of police stations and police quarters, each at Dromankesse and Kranka, all cities within the Nkoranza North District of the Bono East Region.

    The two facilities, built by Hon Derek Oduro, the incumbent Member of Parliament have six office rooms for administration, Criminal Investigations Department, Crime Officer, Station Commander, Station Master and Conference hall.

    Impressed by the timely completion of the projects, Hon. Kofi Amoakohene, the Regional Minister said, the presence of the Police in the community would help reduce crime rate and to facilitate peace and socio-economic development.

    He applauded Major Retired Derek Oduro, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkoranza North, who funded the projects for his hardworking and dedication and cohesion with the Municipal Assembly to put up such edifices for the police service to ensure lives are protected. 

    The Deputy Minister of defense called for strong community partnership with the Police for effective policing and urged individuals and organizations to assist in building a cordial relationship with the police officers.

    He urged the people to maintain the peace before, during and after the polls to safeguard the community and the country as a whole, urging the community to cooperate with the newly elected member of parliament in the Constituency in order to bring more development to the Constituency. 

    DCOP Mr. Asumadu Okyere-Darko, Bono East Regional Commander underlined the importance of the facility and asked for a synergistic relationship between the people and the police service personnel. 

    Nana Obirimpon Danso the 2nd said the facility was one of the four thematic areas he dreamt on assumption of office to improve security in the sprawling community.

    Hon. Oduro highlighted some of his achievements in the area to include the construction of children’s hospital, roads, street lights, chip compounds, Nurses and Teachers quarters, Maternity homes, Bole hole water projects, Toilet facilities throughout the district and promised to help create more jobs through the private sector once his government (NPP) remains in government having lost the 2020 parliamentary elections.

    Municipal Chief Executive, Gifty Akorsah, lauded the initiative as a testimony of the strong bond between individuals, the communities and the Assembly.

    Nana Obirimpon Danso, Omanhene of Dromankesse rallied the collective efforts of all to sustain national peace and harmony adding that “maintaining national peace was a collective responsibility that must not be trivialized.”

    Source: Eric Murphy Asare, Contributor

  • Ghana to procure first consignment of coronavirus vaccine in first half of 2021 Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that the country is expected to take delivery of the coronavirus vaccine in the first half of the year.

    So far only two vaccines have been approved by the World Health Organization and are on sale.

    The vaccines which are available are the BioNTech and AstraZeneca.

    Speaking during a coronavirus address on January 3, 2020, President Akufo-Addo said the country is in the process of procuring a first shipment of the vaccine and that he is hopeful it will be done in the first half of the year.

    “With Ghana set to procure her first consignment of the COVID vaccines within the first half of this year, there is light at the end of the tunnel. But, we are not yet out of the woods. So, let us all continue down the path of strict adherence to the protocols,” he said.

    President Akufo-Addo warned that despite the availability of a vaccine, it is important that Ghanaians continue to observe the preventive protocols.

    “The adherence to the enhanced hygiene, social distancing protocols and mask wearing protocols continue to be the tools of our welfare even when the vaccine arrive in Ghana. By observing these protocols, we are also making sure that the imposition of crippling restrictions and lockdowns do not become options for government”.

    The President also announced the date for the reopening of all schools across the various levels of education.

    “We are satisfied that in the current circumstances the reopening of our schools is safe. So, from 15th January our children in Kindergarten, Primary and Junior High in both private and public schools will be back in schools.

    “All SHS 1 students will start classes from 10th March and all the students embarking on the single-track academic calendar , their seniors in SHS 2 and SHS 3 will however, return to school from 18th January.”

    The President further disclosed that the new variant of the coronavirus has not been detected in the country.

    “Thus far, we in Ghana have not detected any case of this new variant. Our scientist tell us the genetic make-up of the virus in this country has still not changed. The Ghana Health Service with the support of other relevant institutions continue to monitor events closely and will advise government on the way forward”.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Nothing wrong with Bawumia visiting churches – Razak Kojo Opoku

    Razak Kojo Opoku, the leader of the Concerned Voters Movement has urged Ghanaian to eschew religious extremism and embrace other faiths.

    In the past few days, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has been slammed by a section of the public after he worshipped with churches on the night 31st December, 2020 in Kumasi.

    Commenting on the issue, the NLA spokesperson said that Ghanaians should rather praise the Vice President for showing tolerance and maturity.

    “There is absolutely nothing wrong with Bawumia visiting or worshipping with Christians likewise there would be no wrong if Alan or Mahama visit or worship with Muslims”, he said in a social media post.

    He cited a number of instances in the Bible and Quran where the Christian and Muslim faith connect.

    Read his full statement below

    Religious Extremism is a Backward Philosophy: Razak Kojo Opoku Writes

    There is absolutely nothing wrong with Bawumia visiting or worshiping with Christians likewise there would be no wrong if Alan or Mahama visit or worship with Muslims. Ghana is a secular state with Christians Major and Islam Minor. It is important to also state that Abrahamic Religions in chronological order of founding are Judaism led by Moses, Christianity led by Jesus Christ and Islam led by Muhammad.

    Both Ishmael and Isaac(the Covenant Child) are all biological sons of Abraham.

    Muhammad is linked to Ishmael through the lineage of the patriarch Adnan.

    Jesus Christ is linked to Isaac through the patriarch David.

    Christians were the first people who received Muhammad in Madina when he runs away from Mecca to Madina for safety.

    The first covenant agreement between Christians and Muslims for peaceful co-existence and tolerance was signed by Muhammad and Najran Christians in Madina.

    The 1992 Constitution of Ghana has stated clearly that no person should be discriminated on the basis of Religion.

    Tribal Politics and Religious Politics are illegal under the 1992 Constitution.

    A Muslim leader would need Christian Votes to succeed.

    A Christian leader would also need the votes of Muslims to succeed.

    According to Hebrews 12:14, “Pursue peace with all men, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord”.

    And in Romans 12:18, “If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone”.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Heavy security in Accra ahead of Akufo-Addo’s inauguration

    The Ghana Police Service has indicated in a statement that it is deploying Security personnel including the Military and allied Security agencies for the inauguration of the President-elect.

    According to the Police, this is to ensure the safety of state property and the general maintenance of law and order in the country.

    The statement indicated that all VVIPs will be provided with protection on the day of the inauguration and the same attention will be given to the entire State House Complex; Accra International Conference Centre; Accra Sports Stadium and the Black Star Square.

    The President-elect for Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will on January 7 be sworn in at the Parliament house.

    Prior to the swearing-in, Members of Parliament will elect a speaker who will lead the 8th Parliament which experts say promises to be one to watch.

    Source: My News GH

  • Government ends double-track system in SHS 1 and 3

    President Akufo-Addo has announced that both form 1 and 3 students in Senior High Schools(SHS) in the country will no longer run the double-track system.

    “The expansion of infrastructure at various Senior High Schools over the last three years has brought us to this favourable situation,” President Akufo-Addo revealed this in his 21st Covid 19 update on Sunday, January 3, 2020.

    Meanwhile, he said the double-track system will still be applicable to SHS 2 students in schools that are employing it.

    According to the President, all SHS 1 students will start classes from 10th March 2021, while SHS 2 and SHS 3 students will return to school from 18th January 2021.

    Also, students in the Universities and other Tertiary institutions will return to school from Saturday, January 09, 2021, President Akufo-Addo announced.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Police Service releases tight security arrangements for Akufo-Addo’s swearing-in

    The Ghana Police Service has said it is among other measures drawing a manpower strength of six thousand (6,000) personnel from its outfit, the Ghana Armed Forces and allied agencies to provide security for the swearing-in ceremonies of the President-Elect, Vice President-Elect, Speakers and Members of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic scheduled for Thursday, January 7, 2021.

    In a news release detailing security arrangement mapped out for the event, the Police Service said it will ensure the provision of a conducive environment around all dignitaries attending the inaugural ceremonies and other related events whiles ensuring all VVIPs in attendance are offered close protection as appropriate.

    The Service has thus asked the public to stay off the immediate vicinities of the Accra International Conference Center, the Accra Sports Stadium, the Black Star Square and the Entire State House Complex on January 6 and January 7 when the ceremonies will take place.

    The aforementioned areas according to the Ghana Police Service will be secured and patrolled by security personnel who would also mount crash barriers at vantage points to cordon off and control movement to the venues. The police adds that it will only admit into the areas persons bearing invitation cards or accreditations into the specified venues on January 6 and January 7, whiles also conducting covert and overt operations in communities surrounding the State House Complex.

    On COVID-19 protocols, the Police says it will ensure strict enforcement of all COVID-19 protocols including mask wearing for all attending dignitaries and role players. There will be field clinics, ambulances on standby and fire service stations at strategic locations to ensure medical emergency and fire safety during the event.

    In addition to providing security, the Ghana Police Service will also support protocol duties of the State Protocol Department by performing ceremonial duties which will include Bearing of the State Sword, Performance by the Police Band, Escort by the Police Mounted Squadron and motorcade.

    The Police Service indicates that there will be planned road closures, restrictions and diversions in parts of Accra occasioned by the ceremonies of which details will be made available to the public on January 5, 2021.

    Signed by its Director of Public Affairs, SP Sheila Abayie-Buckman, the Ghana Police Service in the release has urged the public to cooperate with the security arrangements for the inaugural ceremonies of January 7, 2021 in support of the constitutional framework of government.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • State House, Conference Centre, & Independence Sq areas declared security zones

    The Ghana Police Service has advised the public to stay off the immediate vicinity of the State House Complex, Accra International Conference Centre, Accra Sports Stadium and the Black Star Square ahead of the swearing-in of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday, January 7.

    “These places would be secured and patrolled by security personnel,” a statement from the Service on Sunday, January 3 said.

    “Crash barriers would also be mounted at certain areas to cordon off and control movements to these venues, with security personnel directing movement.”

    The swearing-in will be preceded by the dissolution of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic on Wednesday, January 6 and the inauguration of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

    As a result, the patrolling of the areas mentioned above will be from Wednesday.

    “Only persons bearing invitation cards or accreditation would be allowed entry into the specified venues on 6th or 7th January, 2021.”

    In all, 6,000 security personnel drawn from the Service, the Ghana Armed Forces and allied agencies will provide security around the events.

    “This will be augmented by technology to ensure maximum security,” the statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs of the Service, Sheilla Kessie Abayie-Buckman, said.

    All VVIPs attending the events to adhere strictly to Covid-19 protocols will be provided “close protection as appropriate”.

    There will be police field clinics to be mounted at the venues to provide emergency care.

    “There would also be ambulances on standby.

    “Similarly, the Ghana National Fire Service would mount stations at strategic locations to ensure fire safety.”

    The police say arrangements regarding road closures, restriction and diversion of traffic will be announced by Tuesday.

    “The Police is urging the public to continue to cooperate with security arrangements for the inaugural ceremonies of 7th January, 2021 in support of the constitutional framework of government.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Fire Service shuts down electronics shops in Ho and Sogakope

    The Volta Regional Fire Service has locked up some major electronic appliance outlets in Ho and Sogakope over fire certificates.

    A swoop led by Mr Richard Bisimpo, Regional Fire Safety Officer, in collaboration with the Police, closed down branches of retailers, including Class House Electronics and Victor Electronics for their inability to produce fire certificates for their premises.

    The Officer told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the visit was the fourth in an attempt to get the outlets to acquire and to renew the certifications.

    He said the shops would remain closed until the required standards were satisfied.  

    The team also visited the West African Football Academy (WAFA) training facility at Sogakope and inspected fire hydrants, water distribution systems, and fire alarms.

    Some petrol stations in the South Tongu District were also examined on maintenance and use of electric power systems.

    Mr Bisimpo said electronic appliance retailers were key targets due to the fire susceptibility of their products and must meet the standards on fire prevention and safety.

    He expressed concerns over the low level of compliance in the region, and said the exercise was a “wake up call to all who are aware that the fire certificates are necessary but are not acquiring them.”  

    Mr Bisimpo asked managers and operators to consider the importance of fire certificates, saying it helped ensure adequate preparation against fire outbreaks and other emergency situations.

    “The fire certificate details provisions for fire incidents and includes extinguishers, hydrants, emergency assembly points, smoke detectors and alarm sounders.

    “Businesses without fire certificates are killing the nation,” he said.  

    The Officer further advised that emergency assembly points were marked clearly, and said the Fire Service was available to offer training sessions on handling emergencies for staff.

    Source: GNA

  • Chief Imam of Ejura, Sheikh Sakib Bamba is dead

    Chief Imam of Ejura-Sekyedumasi in the Ashanti Region, Sheikh Mohammed Sakib Yakub Bamba has been confirmed dead, NorthernWebGh.com report.

    He died yesterday Saturday at his private residence in Ejura, after decades of illness.

    Burial is scheduled to take place today Sunday, at 2:00 pm in accordance with Islamic doctrines.

    Congregational prayers will be held at the Ejura public park before the burials.

    May Allah grant him Jannah.

    Source: Ibrahim Nurudeen, Contributor

  • Creditors besiege TMA over judgement debt

    The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) is being besieged by creditors as copies of a court notice issued by an Accra High Court over unpaid judgement debts have been pasted all over its walls.

    The notice dated December 23, 2020 had Derkak Construction Company Limited as the plaintiff and the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) as the defendant.

    It reads, “whereas writ of Fi. Fa dated at Accra the 01st day of Sept. 2020 has been issued under the hand of his Hon. Lordship Justice Anin Yeboah Chief Justice of Ghana at the instance of the judgment creditor DERKAK Con. Co. LTD for the attachment of the moveable and the immovable property of the judgment debtor Tema Metropolitan Assembly in the above-named suit”.

    It further stated that “the said judgment Debtor is hereby prohibited from alienating the property alienating the property below mentioned by sale, gift or in any other way and all persons are hereby prohibited from receiving the said property by purchase, gift or otherwise”.

    Meanwhile, on December 22, 2020 the contractor accompanied by police officers stormed the TMA to take possession of three pick-ups vehicles and a Prado belonging to TMA in a bid to recover the judgment debt.

    The Ghana News Agency learned that Derkak Construction Company Limited was contracted by the TMA to procure and fixed some 3,000 streetlights in the Metropolis.

    The Assembly was said to have agreed to pay 40 percent of the contract sum after a successful procurement while the remaining 60 percent would be paid in installments as the streetlights were being fixed.

    TMA is said to however defaulted leading to the contractor initiating a suit against the Assembly and the subsequent judgement.

    TMA officials have declined to comment on the issue.

    Source: GNA

  • 2020 would have been a wonderful year in the absence of coronavirus 1D1F PRO

    The One District One Factory Secretariat asserts that the year 2020 with the absence of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the world would have been a wonderful year to be told in the history of industrialization in Ghana.

    In an end of year assessment, the Public Relations Officer of the Secretariat, Mr Kwaku Gyasi states that the government agency tasked with facilitating the setting up and revitalizing existing factories in all districts across the country, was in the position to achieve greater heights in 2020.

    Mr Gyasi said with 2020 being an election year, there was a call of urgency for the secretariat to ensure that most if not all the factories were established before the close of the year.

    However, he points out that the secretariat from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak was faced with daunting challenges that threatened its objective.

    “Government, the secretariat, promoters and collaborators faced a critical challenge in 2020. Before the year begun, most of the factories had matured in terms of their setting up and were at the stage where installing of machinery was supposed to take place,” he said.

    The PRO explains that government in its conscious quest to ensuring a smooth transition of the phases in establishing the factories secures through parliament tax exemptions on imported machinery and equipment for 1D1F projects as and when they are duly applied.

    He again points out that even though a lot of the machinery meant for some of the projects, arrived in the country on time, their installation and setting up were delayed as most were to be installed by manufacturers and experts who are expatriates and could not travel into the country due to restrictions imposed worldwide because of the deadly pandemic.

    He cited an example in the case of Agro Africa Company Limited, a 1D1F factory in the Ashanti Region specialized in processing piggery into various meat products that had its installation of machinery and equipment halted from November 2019 to October 2020 even though machines meant for its operations had arrived in the country ahead of time.

    “Around June/July when the secretariat conducted a visit to project sites to assess the impact of the pandemic, it was realized how dire the factories condition had been rendered due to the halt in continuation of the project. Their machines had been sitting at the factory for months without them being installed. It affected their operational timelines and this situation became very common with most projects at the installation.”

    Faced with the effects of the pandemic, the 1D1F Secretariat was still able to achieve significant strides in its objective through innovative ways as Mr Gyasi would like to put it.

    “The secretariat after conducting its COVID-19 impact assessment and realizing the effects of the pandemic on projects had to think outside the box and come up with innovative ways of managing the progress of projects,” he states.

    One of the strategies used by the secretariat in managing the situation was liaising with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that arrangements were made for the movement of expatriate professionals into the country during when restrictions were loosened.”

    He adds that among other things, the secretariat also collected individual issues related to each project and ensured that they were addressed as effectively as possible.

    Success of 1D1F in 2020

    The PRO whiles acknowledging the challenges faced by the secretariat stresses that the success of the 1D1F policy in the year 2020 has been one that can be best described as “very refreshing, monumental and evidential.”

    In summing up the overall success of the flagship industrialisation policy of the Akufo-Addo government, Mr Gyasi states that “President Akufo-Addo through 1D1F has been able to achieve the biggest and most successful industrialization program ever implemented in the history of the country.”

    He said the 2020 election and the need for President Akufo-Addo to account to Ghanaians for another mandate brought to light the success story of the policy ably captured in the “1D1F Testimonial Documentary” put together by the secretariat.

    Speaking further on the successes of the 1D1F policy, Mr Kwaku Gyasi detailed that the government of Akufo-Addo within a period of less than four years has been able to execute 232 projects across the country.

    “Out of the 232 we have 76 that have been completed and are fully operational; out of the 76 we have 48 that are brownfields. They were already existing and needed support to either expand or revitalize their operations. The remaining 28 are the greenfields. They are new and fresh startups that were built from scratch and they include Ekumfi Juice factory, Cassa De Ropa and Petersfield and Rey among others.”

    Having detailed the success of the policy in spite of the COVID-19 related challenges, Mr Gyasi avers that the secretariat in 2021 looks forward to the successful implementation of all outlined projects in all districts across the country.

    “It is expected that the secretariat will continue the establishment of factories in districts across the country and continue working with all stakeholders to ensure that all projects have the right foundation to ensure their survival.”

    He thus extended a new year goodwill message to Ghanaians and emphasized on the commitment of the Akufo-Addo government in bringing development to citizens of the country whiles urging the support of the nation for the government.

    “On behalf of government, the president and his vice-president, the national coordinator of 1D1F, Madam Gifty Ohene Konadu, I wish all Ghanaians a happy new year with hope that 2021 comes with all the blessings and protection we expect to have as a country. We reassure Ghanaians that the president is highly committed to diligently serving the good people of the country and bringing us the necessary development. I urge Ghanaians to Continue to repose confidence in the president and his government as well as being good citizens and not spectators.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Market completes holiday-shortened week in bullish mode

    The benchmark index advanced further by 31.72 points (+1.66%) on the back of three banking counters to close the holiday-shortened week at 1,941.59 with a -13.98% year-to-date return while the market capitalization increased by 0.61% to settle at GH¢54.38 billion.

    Ecobank Ghana (9.92%), Standard Chartered (+5.23%) and GCB Bank (+1.25%) pushed the GSE Financial Index upward by 57.63 points (+3.34%) to close at 1,782.76 with a -11.73% year-to-date return.

    The SAS Manufacturing Index recorded no gains or losses, closing at 1,701.33 with a year-to-date return of -51.13%.

    Trading activity strengthened as 30,218,537 shares valued at GH¢13,598,638 changed hands from 13,241,564 shares valued at GH¢8,502,553 last week. GOIL Company dominated trades by volume, accounting for 56.87% of the total volume traded while MTN Ghana dominated trades by value, accounting for 61.06% of the total value traded.

    We expect trading activity to surge.

    Source: SAS

  • KMA pursues digitised revenue mobilization drive

    The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) is envisioning the digitization of revenue mobilization to ensure the processes meet contemporary standards and practices.

    The move forms part of efforts to use digital tools for more effective management of local public finances and also address leakages in revenue mobilization.

    Mr. Osei Assibey Antwi, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), who was addressing a meeting of the Assembly in Kumasi, hinted that the African Smart Towns Network (ASToN) is supporting the authorities to bring their vision to fruition.

    ASToN is a network of some selected African cities that wants to use digital tools in finding solutions to prevailing development challenges as pertained to their specific localities and contexts.

    Consequently, the KMA is planning to revamp its Revenue Unit with digital tools to be able to build a reliable database and adopt an e-tax system to enhance revenue mobilization.

    The Third Ordinary Meeting of the First Session of the Eighth Assembly discussed issues relating to revenue mobilization, security, and infrastructural development, environmental sustainability, public-private-partnerships, and maintenance of law and order.

    Mr. Assibey-Antwi said the total revenue received as at October 2020 was GH¢34,271,791.92, representing 58.22 percent out of the total projection of GH¢58,867,392.95.

    In terms of the Internally Generated Funds, the Assembly had collected GH¢16,774,454.40 out of the projected GH¢24,000,000.00, representing 69.89 percent within the period under review.

    This performance, according to the MCE, was below the expected 83.33 percent for the period.

    He observed that the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative toll on the revenues of the Assembly and, therefore, stressed the need for the authorities to strategize to mop up revenue for development purposes.

    Source: GNA

  • Eighteen New Year babies born at Ridge Hospital

    Eighteen babies were born on New Year day at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge) in Accra.

    The babies, ten boys and eight girls, were delivered between the hours of 0010 hours and 11:55 hours on Friday, January 1, 2021.

    Dr Emmanuel Srofenyoh, Medical Director of the Hospital, told the Ghana News Agency on Saturday that eight of the babies were delivered through Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery (SDV) and ten put to birth through Caesarean Section (CS).

    The Medical Director said all the babies were doing well, and that they were born without complications.

    He said their mothers would be discharged from Monday, January 4, 2021.

    Mrs Clara Afotey, 28, was the first mother to welcome her bouncing baby boy into the world at exactly 0015 hours on New Year day through SDV.

    Mrs Afotey told the Ghana News Agency (GNA), in an interview, that she was so excited to deliver her baby on the first day of the year 2021.

    She said she was grateful to God although the sex of the baby swerved her.

    “All the scans I had during pregnancy showed that my baby will be a girl, so I prepared to receive a baby girl. I was amazed when I delivered a baby boy, but I am eternally grateful to God,” Mrs Afotey said.

    A happy father, Mr Abraham Appiah, who was by his wife at the Maternity ward, holding his baby, said the birth of his child on the first day of the year was a sign that 2021 would be a very good year for him and his family.

    He said they were excited to welcome their first daughter after five years of marriage.

    All the mothers thanked God for safe delivery and expressed excitement as friends and relations visited to congratulate them.

    Source: GNA

  • Inmates asked to take advantage of skills training in prisons

    Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, the Executive Director of Crime Check Foundation (CCF), has advised inmates of the Awutu Camp Prison to take their skills training seriously.

    He said such skills would facilitate their reintegration into society.

    Mr Kwarteng gave the advice when the Foundation with support from Rabotec Group organised a party for inmates of Camp Prison in Kasoa in the Awutu East Municipality in the Central Region.

    The all-male prisoners were treated to delicious Ghanaian foods and drinks.

    In addition to the food and drinks, the Camp was given 1,000 dollars.

    The CEO of Rabotec Group, Mr Ibrahim Ali, also donated GHc30,000 to the Foundation to support the petty offenders project.

    The Camp offers skills training in Bakery, Crop and Livestock farming, Tailoring and ICT.

    Mr Kwarteng, who is also the Ambassador Extraordinaire of Prisons, said the skills acquired would help in the rehabilitation and reformation of the inmates.

    He appealed to the leadership of Parliament to pass the non-custodial Sentencing bill into law, adding the bill had been in Parliament for a long term.

    Mr Kwarteng expressed the commitment of the Foundation to continue to support ex-convicts to reintegrate into society.

    Mr Ali said the Company decided to support the inmates as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility.

    He urged the inmates to refrain from the various crimes that had brought them into prison and to focus on the skills acquisition.

    Mr Ali said he was in talks with authorities of the Camp to see how best he could assist to address some of the challenges.

    “Hold on to God and believe that He will see you through,” he said.

    The Officer in Charge of the Camp, Mr William Thomas Anaman expressed gratitude to the donors.

    He said the Camp had maize, beans and vegetable farms, where the inmates were taught good farming practices.

    “The boys are trained in good farming practices, so that by the time they leave prisons, they will be well-equipped to support themselves through farming and be useful to themselves and society,” he added.

    He said the management of prison inmates must not be left in the hands of only Prison Officers, saying, “While we manage theme for the angle of the law, individuals, faith-based organisations and other companies can also support to take care of them,” he added.

    He appealed to the public to come to the aid of the Camp with infrastructural development.

    The in-charge said the Camp had 120 inmates but it could take up to 400 inmates when more infrastructure was provided.

    Source: GNA

  • I dropped out of Accra Poly level 200 because of extreme poverty – Lady reveals

    Ruby Venson is a victim of a financial catastrophe; her life came crumbling down after her father’s death. She had big dreams of being a graphic designer. But, life happened. 

    Ruby is a 22-year-old who lives with her mom and siblings in Accra. She completed Methodist Girls High school in 2015 and enrolled in Accra Technical University two years later. After a year of school, Venson quit school to make way for her younger siblings to get an education too. 

    Ruby loves to draw, hence the desire to become a graphic designer. 

    ”I am very good at designing and it has always been a dream to be a graphic designer but after my father’s death, everything went south. If I get the opportunity I would go back to school,” Ruby said. 

    Moreover, Ruby and her family might just have to vacate their home due to family issues but have no place to move to. Momentarily, she does not work nor school. Her mom, Awo Sebeye washes people’s clothes and earns 10 to 15gh a day as payment to feed three children.

    Ruby would love to go back to University or perhaps understudy a graphic designer. Any form of help will be greatly appreciated. Please contact SVTV Africa Foundation on 

    Kindly watch the full interview below;

    Source: SVTV Africa

  • Court stops NDC demo against EC in Effutu constituency

    The Cape Coast High Court has placed an injunction on an intended demonstration by the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) in the Effutu Constituency in the Central Region against the Electoral Commission of Ghana.

    This was after the Ghana Police Service had applied to the court for an Ex-Parte injunction against the march which was scheduled for Tuesday, January 5, 2021.

    The Effutu constituency, led by its 2020 parliamentary candidate, James Kofi Annan, and the constituency executives, planned a massive demonstration against the Jean Mensa-led Electoral Commission, in solidarity with their flag bearer, John Dramani Mahama, and also against what they call “the Effutu ECOWAS Register” in the Effutu constituency.

    They believe the Effutu constituency voters register is hugely over-bloated with voters imported from the neighboring constituencies.

    According to them, the true winners of the 2020 parliamentary and presidential elections are James Kofi Annan and John Dramani Mahama respectfully.

    According to the constituency secretary, Abraham Arthur, the party has called for a general meeting (made up of all branch executives) on Sunday, to discuss and agree on the way forward, and other courses of action.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Update: Tourist in Ave Dakpe crocodile attack video sustained minor injury Akatsi North Assembly

    It has emerged that the victim of a crocodile attack at a tourist site in Ave Dakpe as recently reported by GhanaWeb only sustained minor injury.

    In an update, Daily Graphic has reported that the victim of the reptile attack was sent to the hospital on the same day of the incident, received treatment and was discharged.

    Daily Graphic correspondent in the Akatsi North District, Mary Anane-Amponsah reports that the District Assembly which is in charge of the management of the tourist center has already launched investigations into circumstances that led to the attack.

    The District Chief Executive for Akatsi North, Dr. Prince Amuzu has also clarified that the incident occurred before the Christmas and new year festive season.

    “We were alarmed when we saw the video and wondered when it happened.”

    “But after our investigations, we discovered that the incident happened before the [Christmas and New Year] festive period and the victim luckily did not sustain any serious injury,” he said.

    The Assembly according to the DCE was moved to commence the investigation due to the nature of the video from the attack and the public concern that has followed since. An official statement will be issued by the Assembly in the coming days.

    In the video from the incident sighted by GhanaWeb, a group of tourists are seen crowding around the crocodile to take pictures with some bending over the reptile who was lying calmly throughout.

    However, a woman who was part of the entourage in her bid to join the photo op incurred a swift bite from the crocodile by stroking its side.

    From the ensuing panic, the video stopped right at the time the crocodile launched its attack and reactions that have since followed the report were that the victim might have had an arm or hand bitten off or sustained serious injuries.

    “She was not even admitted. It was a minor injury and she is very fine,” the DCE revealed of the status of the victim.

    He added that investigations are still ongoing with contact being made with all those present during the incident.

    Mr Amuzu also assured that the centre since its inception has ensured the safety of its visitors and remain committed to same.

    “We have spent a lot to establish this project and therefore the safety of visitors and tourists were paramount to us and therefore would not jeopardise that,” he added.

    Watch video of the incident below:

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • I received death threats from someone who speaks ‘impeccable English’ – Kwesi Pratt

    Seasoned Journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr has disclosed that he recently received death threats from someone who spoke “impeccable English’.

    Some journalists prior to and after the December 7 polls have been receiving death threats and attacks from unknown persons.

    Top on the list is Afia Pokua aka Vim Lady of Despite Media, morning show host of Accra-based Angel FM, Captain Smart, investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni and GTV journalist Abdul Hayi Moomen.

    Describing the phenomenon as unfortunate, the Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, narrated how he also received death threats from a 0508590799 number.

    “I had a call last week from someone who spoke impeccable English and he said I looked like the devil’s incarnate and that people like me should be eliminated. “He said I looked like the devil and that people like me should not be alive ..what was my crime; I only expressed my mind. Even under Emperor Bokassa these things were not happening,” he fumed.

    Kwesi Pratt who was contributing to a panel discussion on Panafrican TV’s Good Morning Africa added: “I’ve seen personalities sitting on television threatening to kill…these are frightening and the police have not invited them. The level of impunity is shocking; it doesn’t even happen in a banana republic”

    Meanwhile, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has charged the police to deal with these threats.

    “It is of critical importance that our security agencies get to the bottom of these complaints and use all the legitimate means at their disposal to unmask the identities of the culprits; whatever their motives; and arrest and prosecute them with speed,” he said in a tweet.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Akufo-Addo prays for a Coronavirus-free, prosperous 2021 for Ghana

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is upbeat that Ghana would surmount the scourge of COVID-19 pandemic as she mitigates its impact on the economy in the new year.

    In a short interaction with the media on Friday after he joined congregants of the Accra Ridge Church to usher in year 2021, he prayed that “we have a good year, that this disease is brought finally under control in our country, and we begin to rebuild our economy and secure the peace and stability of our nation…that is my wish for the people of Ghana.”

    The President was accompanied by his wife Rebecca, some senior government officials and family members to the service.

    The watch-night service was marked with joyful songs of praise to God and thanksgiving for seeing the country through the difficulties the COVID-19 presented in 2020, and intercessory prayers for Ghana, the government, the legislature, Judiciary, the security services, and for all health workers and affiliates.

    Prayers were also raised for good counsel for President from his appointees, and for God to imbue him with the spirit of discernment, and for divine guidance to steer the affairs of the country successfully.

    The congregants of the Church prayed also for God’s protection and shield around the country, as the coronavirus pandemic continued its raging run around the world.

    A minister of the Church, Reverend Andrew Odjawo, in an exhortation, said God had been good to Ghana and indeed the people of Africa.

    He noted that projections made that huge numbers of Africans would die from the COVID-19 disease did not materialise, saying, “Though many lost their lives, God has been gracious to us, and spared our country the wrath of the disease…and we should indeed be grateful to Him.”

    “We thank God for our country, and for the leadership in our country,” he said.

    Taking his sermon for the night from the second chapter of the book of Collossians.

    In which the Apostle Paul cautioned the Collassians against false teachings, Rev. Odjawo warned of the danger of spiritual deceit in the Church.

    He said the body of Christ was now abound with “con artists” who “swindle” the brethren with wrong philosophy and doctrines.

    The Rev. Minister implored the congregation to shun with vehemence, any philosophy that did not follow Christ’s teaching, and make Him the centre of their lives because Christ was the fullness of the God head.

    “As we move into 2021, Christ must be the centre of our lives, because in Him, there was the fullness of God head.

    “Let us make Christ the centre of our lives. He is all we need in 2021, whether coronavirus or not. Whatever comes, Jesus should reign in our lives. Nothing else matters when we place Christ at the centre.. Let everything resolve around Him,” he said.

    Rev. Odjawo prayed that the people of Ghana recovered what the lost in 2020.

    “As we move into 2021, let us be assured that God would lead us to recover all our losses of 2020. He will bring us back to the pasture where there will be increase. 2021 is our year of recovery,” he added.

    Source: GNA

  • Supporters of former NPP PC in Tamale on rampage, destroy journalist’s motorbike

    The Northern Regional Correspondent of the Ghanaian Observer News Paper, Mohammed Bondirigbum has narrowly escaped mob attack at the premises of NTV, a television station based in Tamale.

    The angry supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Tamale South constituency believed to be loyalists of Yakubu Ussif, the 2020 parliamentary candidate of NPP invaded the office of the television station to attack the seasoned journalist for independently sharing his views on corruption allegation levelled against the parliamentary candidate.

    Some polling stations executives in the Tamale South constituency after the declaration of the 2020 general elections accused the party’s immediate past parliamentary candidate, and some constituency executives of pocketing monies meant for them.

    The polling station executives revealed that, the party’s national treasurer allocated GH¢600 for each polling station, but the defeated PC and some of the constituency executives gave each centre GH¢200.

    As a result, the aggrieved polling officers formed a coalition to register their displeasure. Among other things, the coalition petitioned the constituency secretariat to investigate the matter.

    Mohammed Bondirigbum who was invited to the station as a panel member to discuss rising issues in the region reasoned with the aggrieved executives, and called on the leadership of the party to intervene.

    He also questioned why Yakubu Ussif should be lobbying for Tamale Chief Executive position, if he can’t be transparent to polling station executives.

    After confirming the allegations by the polling station executives, he tasked the accused person’s to refund the money to the frustrated executives.

    Mr Bondirigbum pronouncements during the live program, NorthernWebGh.com understands angered the former PC supporters which led to the attack.

    After realizing danger minutes after the program, Mr Bondirigbum disappeared upon seeing the former PC supporters invading the television station.

    The supporters unable to unleash their venom on Mr Bondirigbum, destroyed his motorcycle beyond repairs.

    Mr. Mohammed Bondirigbum has since reported the case to the police for the necessary action to be taken.

    Meanwhile, the petition of the Collation of the Concern Polling Station executives further accused the former PC of diverting campaign item’s for his personnel gains.

    Source: Ibrahim Nurudeen, Contributor

  • Akufo-Addo to deliver State of the Nation Address on January 5

    President Akufo-Addo will deliver the final State of the Nation Address in parliament on Tuesday, January 5 at 10am.

    The SoNA is billed to be delivered before the current 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana will be dissolved at midnight of January 6, 2021.

    This was contained in a Press Statement by Parliament of Ghana announcing the programme outlining activities to dissolve the 7th Parliament and inaugurate the 8th, as well as inaugurate President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    According to a press release issued by Director of Public Affairs, Kate Addo, the activities would be strictly by invitation.

    “At 12:01am on 7th January, the Elected Members of the 8th Parliament will convene in the Chamber of Parliament to elect a Speaker and Two Deputy Speakers, in accordance with Articles 95, 96 and 100(2) of the 1992 Constitution, after which the elected Members of the 8th Parliament will be sworn in by the Speaker at the Chamber of Parliament as per Article 100(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

    “The President-elect will then be sworn in before the 8th Parliament in accordance with Article 57(3) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

    “The media and the general public are to note that attendance of these events are strictly by invitation. All COVID-19 safety and prevention protocols will be strictly adhered to”, the press release cautioned.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • NDC Petition: I want EC, other state institutions to work better Mahama

    Apart from seeking to remove doubts and other reliefs in the yet-to-commence election petition, the petitioner and National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate in the just-ended polls, Mr John Dramani Mahama is also seeking to ensure that institutions in the country work effectively.

    “I want a Ghana that our institutions of the state can be held to account where we can stand on principle and demand transparency without the risk of losing our lives”, the latter reacting in a televised message to Ghanaians after his party officials filed a petition on Wednesday, December 30, 2020.

    “Indeed in 2012 when the election was called in my favour my opponent challenged the results as was his right and he took the matter to court. Eight long months of an election petition filed from destroying our democracy rather reinforced our commitment to it and affirmed the strength of our institutions particularly the Judiciary…”, the former President recounts.

    “Some people have asked me what I hope to gain by challenging the results of this election. Let me tell you! I want perhaps the very same thing that my opponent wanted when in 2012 he challenged the results of that election”, Mr. Mahama said.

    Background

    Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has petitioned the Supreme Court to annul the results of Election 2020.

    Ex-Mahama further wants the court to order for a re-run of the polls hence the need to issue a fiat restraining President Akufo-Addo from holding himself as the President-elect.

    Other reliefs

    Other reliefs sought by the Former President include a declaration that the Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Jean Mensa, breached the 1992 constitution, specifically Article 63(3) with the declaration that she made on December 9, 2020.

    Also, the former President is asking the apex court of the land to declare that based on the data contained in the declaration “no candidate satisfied” the more than 50 percent threshold required to be declared a winner of the presidential poll.

    Source: My News GH

  • Check out the 21 prophecies released by Prophet Badu Kobi on 31st night

    Prophet Badu Kobi, the leader of the Glorious Wave Chapel International has released twenty-one prophecies which he believes could come to pass if certain actions are not taken.

    Chief among the prophecies which came on December 31, 2020 at his church is the reversal of the results of the 2020 presidential election by the Supreme Court.

    Badu hinted that the NDC will get a favorable ruling in the petition and the 2020 election results as declared by the EC will be overturned.

    He also predicted that Kennedy Agyapong, the member of Parliament for Assin Central will be hanged out to dry by his own party, the New Patriotic Party.

    He revealed that there will be attempts on the life of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communication Officer of the NDC.

    The Prophet said that on Sunday he will release seventeen new prophecies and reveal another batch on January 10, 2020.

    He disclosed that the last batch will focus on his church members.

    Read the 21 prophecies below

    India shall progress than any other country

    The economy of America will slow down

    The economy of China will tumble

    The truth of Ghana’s election will come out

    NPP will give out Kennedy Agyapong

    Deportations from nations worldwide

    Iran will worry America

    Another virus is coming and the source China and it will pass through Europe

    Economies of the world will slow down

    Prophets shall be attacked

    Because of darkness over Ghana death, poverty, sicknesses will be cheap

    A very big funeral will happen in Ghana

    Some countries under the UK will start the process of breaking away

    2021 will be the year of increased enemies

    Bishop Agyinasare, Badu Kobi, Nigel Gaisie have been programmed to be attacked Landcruiser with foreign people have been given pictures of pastors but God won’t give them up. It is political and some pastors are involved

    NDC should pray for Sammy Gyamfi. Some people want to kill him spiritually.

    The owner of Angel FM should pray. There is a conspiracy to bring his business down in 2021. Captain Smart should ask me who sent people to his house.

    Citizens are going to fight police and military

    Serious in-fighting in the NPP and secrets will come out

    Jean Mensa’s life is in danger

    More protests across nations

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Mystery as Policewoman collapses and dies at Pokuase

    A policewoman identified as Sergeant Judith Adu of the Pokuase Accident Squad of the Ghana Police Service is reported to have collapsed and died, police sources confirmed to MyNewsGh.com.

    According to close associates, the officer reported sick whiles in the officer and suddenly fell unconscious but was rushed to the M&D hospital in Medie and was admitted for medical attention.

    She was later confirmed dead by the hospital authorities who called to inform the Pokuase police and her superiors.

    The body of the late Policewoman has since been transferred to the Police hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy.

    Her colleagues who spoke on grounds of strict anonymity to MyNewsGh.com are shocked over her sudden demise wondering what could have been wrong considering the fact she was full of life even on the day of her death.

    Source: My News GH

  • NDC Election Petition: Legal team of President Akufo-Addo ready for legal tussle – NPP

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) says the Legal Team of President Akufo-Addo is ready to expose the emptiness of NDC Flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama‘s Election Petition at the Supreme Court.

    A statement signed and issued by Mr Yaw Buaben Asamoa, NPP’s Communications Director, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, on Thursday, said the court process would indeed, reaffirm President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the true winner of the 2020 Presidential Election.

    It said the NPP’s response in court would show that the NDC had no material evidence of value and expose the Party’s false claims that its flag bearer, John Mahama won the just-ended election.

    “The NPP is assured that the 7th December 2020 Elections was won fair and square. Indeed, the evidence presented by the NDC has only reassured the people of Ghana that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo won the elections.

    Mr Mahama, through his lawyers, on Wednesday, December 30,2020 filed a petition at the country’s apex court to legally challenge the 2020 Presidential Election, which the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa, declared President Akufo-Addo, as President-elect on December 9,2020.

    “The fact of transparency of the General Election was also resoundingly affirmed by the myriad of local and international observers that participated in the electoral process,” the statement said.

    The NPP urged Mr Mahama to call the NDC’s supporters to order and halt the street protests to ensure peace and tranquility in the country.

    “It is also unfortunate that even after filing the Petition in court, the NDC led by John Dramani Mahama continues to incite supporters to pour onto the streets to cause chaos and anarchy.

    ” They have attempted and continue to use lies, threats, violence, and intimidation to seek forlornly to overrule the manifest will of the people as freely expressed on 7th December, 2020.

    “We are absolutely confident that the facts and figures as presented in court, even by the NDC, will very easily, in a transparent and indisputable manner, reaffirm the expressed will of the voting public that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo won the 2020 Presidential Election “one touch” and convincingly so.

    The statement said it was quite worrying that Mr Mahama, through his social media handles, continues to incite violence even as he invokes his right to use the court process to settle his grievance.

    It said Mr Mahama wrote on his Facebook and Twitter walls that while in court, the NDC will continue all legitimate actions, including protests, to demand the enforcement of the rule of law and protection of life and property of the good people of Ghana.

    That, the NPP viewed the action as unfortunate and unbefitting of a former President of the Republic.

    ” In his latest Press Conference, he (Mahama) explained he is going to court only “to remove doubt.” Does he need the Supreme Court to remove his doubts about losing the elections?”

    The statement said the several attempts by the NDC to use lies, threats, violence and intimidation to overrule the will of the people is disappointingly undemocratic of Mr Mahama and a breach of the Peace Pact signed on December 4, ahead of the election.

    “We call on John Dramani Mahama to immediately retract his insightful statements to his supporters. It is highly irresponsible of him to commence the judicial process yet still admonish his supporters to continue with the violent protests that have threatened the security and peace of Ghanaians,” the NPP said.

    It said when NPP filed a Petition in 2012, the Party admonished its supporters not to hit the streets and they compiled and urged the NDC and its flag bearer to do the same.

    The statement said the NPP is confident that due process would prevail, and the Supreme Court would deal with the Petition in accordance with the rule of law.

    Source: GNA

  • Large landslide hits southern Norway; over 150 people evacuated

    Over 150 people were evacuated and at least five were injured after a large mud- and landslide early on Wednesday hit Ask in southern Norway, impacting several buildings, police and local media said.

    “There are many houses in the affected area,” Roger Pettersen, head of the police operation, told reporters.

    Pettersen said it was not immediately known if there were any people missing and could not offer details of those injured.

    “Conditions are challenging. It is dark and the weather is bad,” he said, but with more light, it would be easier.

    Pettersen said that all available resources were deployed, including helicopters. Personnel were sent into the affected area to assist people in getting out.

    The evacuees have been sent to a nearby hotel, where they would be registered and offered assistance, Pettersen said.

    Police were alerted about the landslide around 4 am (0300 GMT), triggering a large emergency operation with units from police, emergency services, the Red Cross and others.

    Ask is the administrative centre of Gjerdrum municipality, about 40 kilometres north-west of Oslo.

    Geologists were also at the scene.

    Monica Maeland, minister of justice and public security, said she was monitoring the situation.

    Source: GNA

  • U.S. Vice President-elect Harris receives first dose of coronavirus vaccine

    U.S. Vice President-elect, Kamala Harris received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday live on television.

    “I want to encourage everyone to get the vaccine. It is relatively painless. It happens really quickly. It is safe,” Harris said shortly after being administered the Moderna vaccine at United Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

    “So I urge everyone, when it is your turn, get vaccinated.” The vice president-elect’s vaccination came just over a week after that of President-elect Joe Biden, who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine that, together with the Moderna vaccine, got emergency use authorisation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    In addition to Biden and Harris, Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence, as well as Surgeon General Jerome Adams also got inoculated.

    All of them did it on live television to tout the safety and efficacy of the vaccines.

    President Donald Trump earlier this month said he had reversed a plan to prioritise White House official in the national vaccination programme, saying that he himself is “not scheduled to take the vaccine,” but that he looked forward to doing so “at the appropriate time.”

    Source: GNA

  • EU chiefs sign post-Brexit trade deal, Johnson to follow in afternoon

    The European Union signed the post-Brexit deal on Wednesday, setting it on path to be provisionally implemented after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is scheduled to sign it for London in the afternoon.

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council chief Charles Michel put their ink on the agreement on Wednesday morning – just a week after the deal had been struck.

    The 27 EU ambassadors gave their go-ahead for the provisional application on Tuesday afternoon.

    The deal – which provides for zero tariffs and zero quotas between the trading partners – still needs to be ratified by the European Parliament.

    The European Commission proposed a period of provisional application until February 28, but this might be extended if the lawmakers are scheduled to give their approval in March.

    Also on Wednesday, the British parliament will vote on whether to accept the deal.

    Source: GNA

  • No date to resume the dialogue has been put forth

    Africa has so far been spared the worst of the coronavirus pandemic in terms of cases and deaths but its economy has not been so lucky, especially the poorer, smaller countries dependent on a single resource or sector.

    The spread of the disease has also picked up speed in recent weeks, stoking concerns that worse is to come.

    Here are some key features of the pandemic’s economic impact on Africa:

    Historic recession

    For 2020, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that the economy of sub-Saharan Africa will shrink 3.0 percent, “the worst outcome on record”. However, it should then grow 3.1 percent next year — although this is a much slower pace than elsewhere in the world.

    In terms of per capita income, it has fallen 5.3 percent and back to 2013 levels in the space of just a few months.

    Abebe Aemro Selassie, the head of the IMF’s African division, highlighted the fact that unlike in the 2008-09 global financial crisis, sub-Saharan countries were in a much worse budgetary position, with fewer resources available to face the crisis than their wealthier peers.

    Different countries, different impact

    African countries can be classified as three economic types:

    — Diversified, such as in West Africa, with Ivory Coast, Senegal and Ghana. In the east, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

    In these economies, activity has slowed significantly but they are still managing to grow, the IMF says.

    — Oil producers such as Algeria, Angola and Nigeria. They have suffered very badly from the plunge in crude prices, especially in the early months of the crisis.

    Since then, prices have firmed slowly to arrive back at around $50 per barrel.

    — Tourism-dependent countries such as Morocco, Tunisia and the Seychelles. The pandemic has brought travel to a virtual standstill, grounding airlines, which are struggling to survive.

    “The crisis has confirmed the differences between diversified countries and the exporters of industrial raw materials but has also impacted North African countries which were in a growth rebound thanks to tourism since 2016,” noted Clement Gillet, economist with Societe Generale.

    Standing on its own, South Africa, the continent’s second-biggest economy, has been hit the worst given that it was already in recession before the crisis hit.

    Its economy is expected to shrink 8.0 percent this year.

    Raising funds

    Again, the picture is mixed when it comes to how different countries manage debt and raise fresh funds.

    On the one hand, there is Zambia, which is heavily dependent on mining and became the first country to default on its debt last month, while Ivory Coast only two weeks later easily raised funds on the market.

    Since then, “the financial markets have found their appetite for risk again, and especially for African debt, but investors are going to be much more careful about the details” and quality of the issuers, said Gillet.

    Another important source of funds for African countries is remittances from their foreign workers and inevitably this has also suffered in the pandemic.

    According to the World Bank, such remittances are expected to fall 14 percent to about $470 billion going into 2021.

    “The impact of Covid-19 is pervasive when viewed through a migration lens as it affects migrants and their families who rely on remittances,” said Mamta Murthi, Vice President for Human Development and Chair of the Migration Steering Group at the World Bank.

    Debt

    G20 countries have already put in place a moratorium on interest payments for some 47 countries, most of them in Africa.

    The G20 has also said its members are ready to re-negotiate some of the debt itself but such moves have limits.

    “Firstly, about 40 percent of African debt is accounted for by the private sector,” and not by governments, noted Kako Nubukpo, an economist and a former minister of Togo.

    “Certain countries, such as Benin, with a lot of private-sector debt, oppose the moratorium because they fear that when they return to the market to raise fresh funds their risk premium will explode,” he said.

    But Senegal on the other hand has welcomed the debt service moratorium, he added.

    At the same time, Gillet noted the profile of Africa’s creditors has changed, “which makes any restructuring agreement very complicated”.

    “Up until the end of the 1990s, you could get all the creditors around a table,” he said.

    “But now you have the debt owed to China, which is not part of the Paris Club (of state creditors), then the debt owed to the private-sector lenders (the London Club of bankers), and then above all the debt raised on the markets.”

    Source: africanews.com

  • Sudan protests activist’s torture and killing

    Hundreds of protesters in Sudan took to the city of Omdurman on Tuesday to demonstrates against the torture and killing of the pro-democracy activist Bahaa Eddine Nouri.

    They allege members of the powerful Rapid Support Forces paramilitary are responsible for his death.

    The RSF largely drew its personnel from the Janjaweed militias, which were accused by rights groups of committing atrocities in the Darfur conflict that began in 2003.

    “The Rapid Support Forces are explaining how the killing took place, but we do not want half of the truth, we want the whole truth, we want to know the reason,” said Mohammed Nory, brother of Bahaa Eddine Nouri.

    Bahaa Eddine Nouri, 45, was snatched on December 16 from a cafe in the southern Khartoum district of Kalakla by men in plainclothes who were driving a vehicle without license plates, according to local media.

    His body was found days later bearing signs of torture at a hospital morgue in Omdurman, the capital’s twin city, triggering a public outcry.

    His family collected his body from a hospital morgue in Omdurman, the capital’s twin city, and demonstrators followed for the burial.

    “Enough with disparaging the people’s blood,” read one banner, also referring to the protesters killed during months of unprecedented demonstrations in 2019.

    Those months-long, youth-led protests spurred the military to depose autocrat Omar al-Bashir in April 2019.

    The rallies continued for months afterward as civilians demanded the generals hand over power, culminating in a fragile power-sharing arrangement from August last year.

    State news agency SUNA reported on Monday that the Rapid Support Forces had referred its intelligence chief and other personnel for questioning over Nouri’s arrest and killing, without providing names.

    It later quoted the prosecutor’s office as saying that proceedings were underway to “arrest immediately… all members of the Rapid Support Forces involved in the arrest and subsequent death of Nouri so they can be prosecuted”.

    Source: africanews.com

  • Prominent Ivory Coast opposition figure released from prison

    Prominent Ivory Coast opposition politician Pascal Affi N’Guessan, who was detained following the country’s presidential election, has been released under judicial supervision, his lawyer said Wednesday.

    “He was placed under supervision and released after a hearing with the examining magistrate. He has gone home,” his attorney Pierre Dagbo Gode told AFP.

    N’Guessan, a 67-year-old former prime minister, is head of a faction of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) of former president Laurent Gbagbo.

    He was detained with other opposition figures following the October 31 election, when they declared the vote — won by incumbent Alassane Ouattara — to be illegitimate.

    They issued a statement proclaiming a “national transition council” that was supposed to replace the government.

    Its signatories were then accused of “plotting against the authorities of the state” and other charges.

    N’Guessan was arrested on November 9.

    His lawyer said “the charges have not been lifted, the case is continuing.”

    The fate of the group has been a key issue in talks between the government and opposition aimed at easing the country’s prolonged crisis.

    Scores of people died and hundreds were injured in clashes sparked by Ouattara’s announcement in August that he would seek a third term in office.

    His move was condemned by critics as a subversion of constitutional limits on presidential terms, and most of the opposition boycotted the poll.

    Meanwhile, Communications Minister Sidi Toure, who is also the government’s spokesman, said Wednesday that legislative elections would be held on March 6.

    The announcement came the day after the conclusion of a week-long round of crisis talks.

    The opposition want changes to Ivory Coast’s contested electoral commission, the release of detained leaders and the return of former leaders living abroad.

    A lawyer for Gbagbo — one of the so-called exiles — said earlier this month that he planned to return to the country in December after the government had issued him with a new passport.

    Gbagbo was ousted from office in 2011 and transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague after refusing to concede victory to Ouattara in elections that had taken place the previous year.

    Around 3,000 people died in the post-election conflict.

    His former right-hand man, Charles Ble Goude, has announced a similar plan to return.

    In January 2019, the ICC acquitted the two of crimes against humanity and they are conditionally free pending a possible appeal.

    Gbagbo’s PFI, which is split between a faction loyal to the former president and another headed by N’Guessan, said last week that it would contest the legislative vote.

    The Ivory Coast Democratic Party (PDCI), the country’s biggest opposition party, has yet to say whether it will take part.

    Source: Ghana Celebrities

  • Paul Ayongo nets penalty as Academico Viseu win at Porto in Portuguese second-tier

    Paul Ayongo scored a penalty as Academico Viseu secured a 3-2 win at FC Porto B in the Portuguese Segunda on Wednesday.

    The 24-year-old stepped up in the 47th minute to convert from 12 yards to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

    On the hour mark, Chico Conceicao pulled one back but Joao Vasco restored Academico Viseu’s two-goal lead.

    In the 72nd minute, Joao Marcelo popped up to reduce the deficit again.

    Ayongo has now scored three goals in eight league appearances.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Saint-Étienne prepare 2 million Euros for Ghanaian midfielder Kamal Sowah

    Ghanaian attacking midfielder Kamal Sowah has emerged as a subject of interest for French outfit AS Saint-Étienne, GHANASoccernet.com can exclusively report.

    The Ligue I cub have identified the in-form winger as an option in the transfer market after struggles to sign Algerian striker Slimani and Bordeaux attacker Nicolas de Préville.

    GHANASoccernet.com can reveal Saint-Etienne are preparing an amount around 2 million Euros before making a first official bid for the Leicester City youngster.

    Currently on loan at Belgium side OH Leuven, the 20-year-old recently signed a long term contract with the Foxes following his impressive performances in the ongoing Jupiler Pro League.

    Kamal Sowah has scored six times and provided 4 assists in 19 games in the 2020/21 Belgium topflight league.

    The former Right to Dream Academy graduate moved to England in 2018 to join the former Premier League champions, but has spent time on loan in Belgium with Leaven, helping them secure promotion to the topflight last season.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Ghanaian midfielder Jackson Owusu to sue Kenyan champions Gor Mahia at FIFA

    Ghanaian midfielder Jackson Owusu has threatened to drag Gor Mahia FC to FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber over unpaid entitlements.

    Owusu claims not once during his five-month stint with the Kenyan champions did the club did not pay him his monthly salary.

    He is demanding around US$24,000 in accrued salaries, bonuses, and signing-on fees.

    “Ever since I came there (to Nairobi), they have not paid me my salary. Not even a penny. Were my services to the club free? I have been engaging chairman Ambrose Rachier and even Team Manager Jolawi Obondo on how to get my money but it has been one lie after another and that is why I have decided to take up the case with FIFA,” the midfielder told Nairobi News.

    The former Berekum Chelsea midfielder joined Gor Mahia in January 2020 where he immediately nailed a starting berth under coach Steven Polack.

    Owusu even featured in Kenya’s biggest fixture “Mashemeji” derby against arch-rivals AFC Leopards in March 2020 which Gor Mahia won by a solitary goal.

    Polack and Owusu worked together when the coach handled Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko SC during the 2018 season.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet